Three Kings Day Rosca Party: Hosting Dia de Reyes at Home

Dia de Reyes marks the day the Three Kings, also called the Magi, brought gifts to the baby Jesus. In many Mexican and Latin American families, it is a day for kids, cake and a table full of cousins. Chicago has large Mexican communities in Pilsen, Little Village and many suburbs, and in January the bakeries sell out of roscas early. The party is simple, and a good setup keeps it that way.

Traditions vary by country and family. Some families put out shoes for gifts on the night of Jan 5, and some do not. Use what fits your home.

The rosca and the baby

The rosca de reyes is an oval or round sweet bread, topped with candied fruit and sugar. One or more small baby figures are baked in. Each figure stands for the baby Jesus hiding from King Herod. In many families, it is cut and shared after dinner, with hot chocolate or atole.

Whoever finds a figure in their slice is traditionally asked to host the next party, a tamales gathering on Feb 2, Candelaria, or Candlemas Day. Some families make the finder hold it for a year. Some give a small prize. Tell guests the custom before you cut, so no one swallows a figure, and cut slices a little thick so the figures are easy to see.

Plan the party around the table

A rosca party often starts after dinner or in the late afternoon. It has a clear moment, the cutting, so plan the room around it.

• One long table for the rosca and drinks, with the rosca at the center. A 6-foot or 8-foot table with a floor-length cloth works for a family.
• A beverage station with hot chocolate in an urn or large pot, and a pot of coffee or atole. See how many coffee urns.
• A seated table for grandparents and adults, with chairs close to the cutting table.
• A standing area for others, because many people hold a mug and chat.

Plan about 1 rosca for every 8 to 10 guests as a rule of thumb. Order early, because bakeries sell out in the first week of January.

Seating the kids

Kids are the center of the day. A low table of their own keeps them near the action.

See kids tables and chairs for events and dinnerware for kids. Hot chocolate is hot, so seat the youngest away from the urn.

The Candelaria tamales party

On Feb 2, the person who found the baby hosts. Tamales take hours to make, and many families make them together. It is a bigger job than the rosca, and the table matters more.

• Tamales for a crowd. A rule of thumb is 3 to 4 tamales per adult, fewer for kids.
• Warm them. Chafing dishes with a little water keep tamales warm, and a steamer pot helps.
• Serve with atole or champurrado, and sauces on the table.
• Order tables early. Feb 2, 2027 is a Tuesday, so many families hold the gathering on the weekend before or after.

Check how many chafing dishes for a count. A mix of long and round tables works well, see mix round and long tables.

What most hosts find out too late

• Rental calendars are slow after the holidays, but the first weekend after Jan 1 can fill up. Ask about the Saturday before Jan 6, and for pickup on Jan 7 or later.
• A snowy entry and coats. In Chicago in January, guests bring boots and coats. Plan a coat rack and a mat.
• Count the cups. Hot chocolate needs mugs, not plastic cups, and you need about 2 per guest as people refill. Rental mugs save you from buying a pile.

Plan your rosca party

For more on gatherings in this style, see Dia de Muertos gathering planning. Then get a quote, or book a free 15-minute planning call. One call covers the whole rental list, from tables and chairs to chafing dishes.